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L. G. LAWRENCE.

HARMONICA.

No. 478,514. Patented July 5. 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEE1cE.

LESTER G. LAIVRENOE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF TlVO-THIRDS TO A.O. COOPER AND ED. L. BRADBURY, OF SAME PLACE.

HARMONICA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 478,514, dated July 5,1892.

Application filed October 1, 1891. Serial No. 407,433. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LESTER G. LAWRENCE, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Harmonicas, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had to the annexeddrawings, illustrating the invention, in whichto Figure 1 is aperspective representation of the frame-plate and the reed-plates, thelatter being partly detached. Fig. 2 isaperspective representation ofthe frame-plate and the reedplates attached thereto; Fig. 3, aperspective view of the harmonica complete with the case attachmentthereon; Fig. 4, a plan view of the frame-plate removed. from the otherparts.

It has heretofore been the custom to form the reed-plates of harmonicasfiat to fit the fiat sides of the reed-frame; but such constructionleaves the reed-plates substantially free from the reed-frame, exceptwhere the plates are held to the frame by screws or rivets. The holesdrilled through the reed-plates in the region of the reeds weakens theplates and hinders the action of their unity with the frame-plate, andwhen the reed-plates are secured to ametal frame-plate by screws or rivoets, except at the ends, there occur vibrations of the reed-platesindependent of the vibrations of the metal frame-plate, and as a resultthe tone of the instrument is not distinct and clear. 3 5 The purpose ofthis invention is therefore to set the reed-plates with a continuousspring force onto the metal frame-plate without any rigid fasteningsexcept at the ends of the plates, which lie outside of the reeds.-

In carrying out this construction the sides of the frame-plate areformed flat and smooth and the reed-plates are formed of suitable springmetal-such, for instance, as rolledbrass plateand with an even strengthof metal throughout and with flat smooth surfaces. Then by means of diesor otherwise the reed-plates are bent longitudinally, so that the sides,which are to have a spring force on both sides of the metal frame, willhave convex contours, as shown at Fig. 1. The metal frame at its endsand the reed-plates at their ends are provided with corresponding holes,as are also the cases at their ends, whereby when the convex sides ofthe reed-plates are bent flat on the sides of the frame-plate one nutand screw at each end of the harmonica will hold all the parts together,and the reedplates will be held throughout the distance between the nutsand bolts closely to the frame-plate by Virtue of the spring forceretained in them, and as a result a very superior instrument isproduced,as demonstrated by instruments constructed in accordance withthis specification. It is not essential that the bolts which hold thecase in place should also hold the reed-plates to the frameplate,inasmuch as the reed-plates may be secured to the frame-plate byseparate screws.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new- As an improvement inharmonicas, which are provided with metal frame-plates, the combination,with such metal frame-plates, of reed-plates, which are bentlongitudinally to give the faces which are to lie on the frameplateconvex contours, the convex faces being sprung fiat on the oppositesides of the frameplate and secured to the ends of said plate by screwsor bolts, as and for the purpose specified.

LESTER G. LAIVRENCE. Witnesses:

G. L. GHAPIN, M. E. LAMB.

